Summer 2019 – With traffic moved onto the new eastbound pavement in May, Stage 2 construction to build two new westbound lanes is now underway along the entire 2.6-mile project area between U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) and Clayton Park Drive.
In early Stage 2 activities, crews are installing the northern halves of box culverts under the westbound side at several locations. These culverts will connect the drainage structures and piping that were installed under the southern (eastbound) side of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) during Stage 1 construction. The piping will move stormwater collected on one side to retention basins that have been installed on the other side as part of the project's extensive stormwater management system.
While some of the large-scale earthwork to clear space for the new westbound lanes has been completed, bulk earth-moving still remains to be done in several areas this summer in the vicinity of the Webb Creek bridge and at the eastern end of the project area between Merion Drive and Clayton Park.
Across much of the work zone, excavators will be removing the original pavement and begin building the two new westbound lanes this summer. Placement of the base asphalt pavement will take place this summer in areas where crews have finished installing drainage and utilities. The majority of the paving will take place this fall as PennDOT expects to finish the new westbound lanes (Stage 2) by the end of 2019. Stage 3 reconstruction of the middle section of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) will then begin, with completion of Section 101 improvements expected by late 2020.
Stage 2 bridge construction also is underway this summer on the structures over the Webb Creek and over Smithbridge Road. Crews have demolished the original Smithbridge Road overpass and will construct abutments and set deck beams for the westbound side of the new bridge in late summer and begin deck construction on the new span this fall.
The original bridge over Webb Creek will be removed this summer. Excavation and abutment construction for the westbound side of the new span will follow, with beam erection expected in late summer and deck construction this fall as well.
The westbound side of the new intersection at U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) remains under construction, and the westbound side of intersections at Spring Valley Road and Matson Road also will be improved during construction this summer and fall.
The intersection of Fellowship Drive/Station Road North was completed under stage 1 construction when Station Road North was realigned with Fellowship Drive. Site work for the new PennDOT maintenance facility also has been completed along the westbound side at this intersection. The maintenance facility will be constructed under a separate contract scheduled to get underway in 2021.
Creation of replacement wetlands for natural areas displaced by the construction on U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) also finished in May. The 2.33-acre replacement tract is located at Cheney Road and Creek Road near Cheney University in Thornbury Township, Chester County.
Under the current contract, PennDOT is reconstructing and widening the roadway and upgrading intersections and traffic signals on 2.5 miles of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) from U.S 1 (Baltimore Pike) to just east of Featherbed Lane/Mattson Road near Clayton Park in Concord Township, Delaware County. The work is the first of three PennDOT construction projects that will improve travel and safety on a 6.7-mile section of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway).
As design engineering continues on the second half of the project east of Clayton Park Drive, Section 102, PennDOT expects to begin improvements from east of Clayton Park Drive to just east of Route 452 (Market Street) in Bethel and Upper Chichester townships in 2021.
A third corridor improvement contract, Section CSX, to replace the U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) bridge over the CSX railroad and Bethel Road and complete other improvements to the adjacent Bethel Road Interchange remains under design and is not yet scheduled for construction.
During all remaining construction on the $62.6 million Section 101 contract, PennDOT will maintain a lane of traffic in each direction on U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) during peak hour travel. Motorists may find periodic flagger-controlled lane restrictions at locations across the work zone on Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and from 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM, for various operations as construction advances along the corridor.
Follow the progress of improvements to the U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) at us322conchester.com.
